Don't forget to try substituting the b7 note with an actual 7 note, a half-step up, while the Major V chord is being played!

Chord Name

Roman Num.

Chord Notes

C# minor (C#m)

i

C#, E, G#

G# Major (G#)

V

G#, B#, D#

When soloing over Major "V" chords, substitute the minor scale's "b7" note with the "7" note (a half-step above the "b7", shown in red above), since the "7" note is part of the "V" chord. This turns natural minor scales into harmonic minor scales.

C# natural minor scale: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B

C# harmonic minor scale: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B#​

Scale degree

1

2

b3

​

4

5

b6

b7

7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

B#​

Now see how many of these chord progressions you can play along with when you don't know which track is coming up next! Usethe Roman numerals that show up in the audio player as your clues &practice learning those Roman numeralshere!

This is where you really start going a long ways towards training your ear and building the muscle memory you need to play songs "on the fly"!

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

5

b6

b7

7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

B#​

Chord Name

Roman Num.

Chord Notes

C# minor (C#m)

i

C#, E, G#

F# minor (F#m)

iv

F#, A, C#

G# Major (G#)

V

G#, B#, D#

A Major (A)

VI

A, C#, E

It's amazing how many good sounds happen when you noodle around with (scale) notes from the key a song is in. Doing this builds lots of muscle and ear memory, which is the whole goal!

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

​

5

b6

b7

7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

B#​

Chord Name

Roman Num.

Chord Notes

C# minor (C#m)

i

C#, E, G#

G# Major (G#)

V

G#, B#, D#

A Major (A)

VI

A, C#, E

B Major (B)

VII

B, D#, F#

This progression has a really cool descending sound. Note that each measure ends with the tension of the Major V chord.

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

5

b6

b7

7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

​B#

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

5

b6

b7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

​

F#

G#

A

B

​

Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.

Chord Name

Roman Num.

Chord Notes

C# minor (C#m)

i

C#, E, G#

G# minor (G#m)

v

G#, B, D#

B Major (B)

VII

B, D#, F#

When you hear the "i" chord, think "home" or "root"!

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

5

b6

b7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

​

Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.

​

Chord Name

Roman Num.

Chord Notes

C# minor (C#)

i

C#, E, G#

G# minor (G#)

v

G#, B, D#

Minor "v" chords resolve back to "i" chords, but not nearly as strongly as Major "V" chords. Listen to Track #4 below.

Practice strumming along, adding solos, or playing bass lines with the following tracks. Muscle memory is the ultimate goal!

Scale degree

1

2

b3

4

5

b6

b7

C# minor scale

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A

B

​

Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played. ("Chord Notes" are the notes that make up each chord).